HCol John Bonn (second from right) prepares to cut the ceremonial change of appointment cake with the help of LCol Joel Roy, right, and HCol Ed Robertson, second from left, while CWO Tom Fagan looks on. Photo by Ross Lees via DND.

There were tears and cheers shared at the handing off of Honorary Colonel duties for Squadron 424 at CFB Trenton.

Ed Robertson, Honorary Colonel since April of 2009 and band member of the Barenaked Ladies today said his final farewells to a role that has impacted him on a personal level.

Robertson said that while he hadn’t been able to be around as much as he would had liked, the squadron still felt like family to him.

Taking over as Honorary Colonel is local doctor and law official Dr. John Bonn of Quinte West.

Bonn’s family comes from military with his father being stationed at CFB Trenton during World War II. Bonn himself has some military background, attending the cadets in his younger days.

Bonn said his involvement with the military had now come full circle and he was proud to become a member of the squadron.